ABA Guide 2025

Nearby Day Trips

Niagara-on-the-Lake (Distance from Toronto by car: 2 hours)

Niagara Falls (Distance from Toronto by car: 2 hours)

Stratford (Distance from Toronto by car: 2.5 hours)

Scarborough Bluffs (Distance from Toronto by car: 45 minutes)

Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake, a pretty 19th- century village on the shores of Lake Ontario, and enjoy farm-to-table cuisine in local restaurants and inns and at some of the region’s 40 wineries. Sip some of Canada’s most beautiful cool- climate wines – and Niagara’s celebrated ice wine – on a tour with a private driver and guide, taking in a range of destination wineries, from sprawling estates to biodynamic boutique spots. There are also a distillery, cider house and two breweries in Niagara-on-the-Lake, all harnessing the flavours of local fruits and grains. History Buffs can visit Fort George National Historic Site to immerse themselves in the region’s military past. And the Shaw Festival offers a prestigious theatre program, from April through December.

The falls at Niagara are more than 12,000 years old and historically a place where newlyweds would elope. There are falls on both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Niagara River. The (Canadian) Horseshoe Falls are 54 metres (177 ft) high and the most dramatic. Every minute the equivalent water volume of 1 million bathtubs thrashes over their crestline. Visitors can walk the promenade to take in the thrill of the falls by day, or visit after dark to see them illuminated. You can observe the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls from the revolving restaurant and observation deck at the Skylon Tower. Weather permitting, you may have the opportunity to hike the White Water Walk, on a boardwalk running alongside a wild stretch of white water, which remains open until mid-November. You can try your luck on the games, enjoy fine dining or take in a live show at one of Niagara Falls’ three casinos. There are also several spas in town, including one that overlooks the falls, and a healing salt cave offering salt spa therapies and holistic treatments.

A quaint English-style town, Stratford, Ontario, is known as a theatre destination. Check the Stratford Festival website for off-season events and performances. To learn about Stratford’s rich history and appreciate the Victorian properties and scenic river views, you can take a self-guided walking tour. Stroll by the peaceful Avon River, where you can see swans and other wildlife, or through Queen’s Park. Enjoy local culture at Stratford Perth Museum – whose exhibitions span heritage quilts, theatre heirlooms and the town’s most famous son, Justin Bieber. Or go to Gallery Stratford for contemporary art by Canadian artists. The unique boutiques, antique shops and artisanal stores in Stratford make this an ideal place to start holiday shopping. Enjoy farm- to-table dining at one of the town’s renowned restaurants, or at the prestigious Stratford Chefs School, which offers dining experiences and drop-in cooking classes to the public year round.

The white cliffs of Scarborough Bluffs overlook Lake Ontario and are the dramatic focal point of a collection of 11 connected urban parks, which stretch for 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) along the shore. A significant geological feature, the bluffs were formed over 12,000 years ago by the natural processes of wind and water erosion. This wild escarpment is in Scarborough, a city just east of Toronto and accessible by public transit. In this urban oasis, you can explore nature trails through forest, wetlands, meadows, gardens and sandy beaches. Enjoy the plant life and rock garden at Rosetta McClain Gardens. For a delicious meal, try Mediterranean fare while enjoying the views at Bluffers Restaurant, or head to Stone Cottage Pub for drinks and traditional pub staples, including a few different spins on Canada’s beloved poutine.